LAFD briefly shuts down 2 Twitter feeds on City Attorney orders

For the second time in a year, the Los Angeles Fire Department refused to release information about a fire and the deaths or injuries suffered - and the decision was reversed hours later.

During a fire Thursday in the 1000 block of North Bonnie Brae Avenue in Echo Park, which killed two and injured three, some information on casualties was released to media by the Los Angeles Police Department rather than the LAFD.

At the time, LAFD spokesman Brian Humphrey described the damage to the building as "significant" but declined to release details on aspects such as evacuations and injuries, even any involving firefighters, based on what he described as instructions received Wednesday from the City Attorney's Office.

On the advice of that office, the LAFD briefly shut down its two Twitter accounts, which routinely provide information on fires, after officials were told they could be held personally liable for damages under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

"There was a misunderstanding, and we have corrected it," City Attorney spokesman Rob Wilcox said. "We told the fire department they can resume giving out information."

The LAFD's two Twitter accounts were placed on "hiatus" and ordered reinstated by 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, but officials said it would take them several hours to get up and running again.

"Frankly, it's ridiculous," he said. "We immediately told the department to fix this, and it's being fixed. The Twitter account is going back online, and they're going to be giving out the information they're supposed to be giving out."

LAFD spokesman Brian Humphrey said he was concerned about limitations on the information he could release.

"If we have a bus accident, I was told I couldn't say if it was a Metro bus, a school bus or a tour bus," Humphrey said. "That's information that is important if you are a parent and you're concerned about a school bus accident."

Last year, the LAFD ordered a similar ban on the release of information, including 911 recordings, but former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa overturned the decision.

The Echo Park fire broke out at 12:18 a.m. Officials said they believe the fire was purposely set.

Most fire and law enforcement agencies routinely release 911 recordings and other records related to emergency calls.

The LAFD has been under criticism for the past two years over its response times. Fire Chief Brian Cummings is being replaced by Mayor Eric Garcetti. James Featherstone, who heads the city's Emergency Management Department, has been serving as interim chief.